Eggs set to fry in gardens all over the country
Monday July 17 2006
Forecasters have confirmed that Ireland is in the grip of a summer heatwave with temperatures expected to climb steadily before peaking at 30 degrees in some inland areas by the middle of the week.
Such scorching heat is a rare occurance on these shores and only comes along once every five to ten years.
It does, however, come hot on the heels of last month's fine, dry weather making summer 2006 a bumper year for sun-worshippers so far.
"July and August tend to be the warmest months and even then temperatures of 25 degrees are not that common in Ireland.
But temperatures of 30 degrees only come about once every five to ten years.
"If we do get 30 degrees it will be remarkable," said Met Eireann's Michael McAuliffe.
The country can expect window-to-window sunshine over the coming days with most parts staying dry.
Temperatures will edge up to 29 degrees today, although coastal breezes will peg back the heat at the beaches.
Tomorrow will continue very warm and sunny with temperatures again in the high 20s.
The warm sultry weather will continue into Wednesday although there will be a risk of showers later in the day.
Thursday is gearing up to be the warmest of the week and the baking heat may trigger thunder storms in the late afternoon and evening.
The second half of the week will stay quite warm although temperatures will drop back.
With the fair-skinned Irish expected to head for the beaches in their droves over the coming days, the Irish Cancer Society has renewed its call for people to follow the Sun Smart Code.
It urged the public to avoid the worst of the heat between the hours of 11am and 3pm; slap on a high factor sunscreen and wear long-sleeved shirts and long shorts.
It also advised people to apply their sunscreen 20 minutes before leaving the house, to wear a wide-brimmed hat and wrap-around sunglasses and to keep babies and young children out of the sun as much as possible.
Meanwhile, Dublin City Council is urging householders to conserve water supplies in the event of the weather causing a weather-induced shortage.
A spokesman with the council said that while there is no cause to panic just yet, officials will be keeping a close eye on water levels in the city's reservoirs "as a matter of course".
Pet owners have also been warned to be extra vigilant as temperatures climb.
Experts say that just 10 minutes in a parked car on a sunny day can cause a dog to collapse.
- Breda Heffernan
